Paid On-Call Firefighter

Position Objectives:

• Performs a variety of skilled and semi-skilled tasks to preserve and protect life and property from and during calls for service that may occur in the City of Detroit Lakes and vicinity.
• Reassignment of duties within the job description frequently occurs depending on the demand of the job.
• These duties and responsibilities are varied in frequency and duration from day to day and season to season.  No one duty or grouping of duties would necessarily constitute a full time position.
• Works under the direct supervision of the fire department executive committee and the general supervision of the Fire Chief.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; ability to understand and carry out verbal and written instructions using the English language.
• Maintain physical conditioning necessary to perform efficiently in emergency situations; meet medical and physical agility standards as established.
• Learn the geography of the District, the location of important buildings and the street system.
• Participate in training drills; attend school and classes on fire fighting, hydraulics, first aid and emergency medicine, fire equipment, and apparatus, and other classes associated with recognized fire fighter and EMR standards.
• Learn and apply technical information pertaining to fire fighting.
• Analyze and cope with a variety of emergency situations calmly but effectively and to react quickly to secure accurate and precise information on the location, extent, and nature of fires and emergency aid requests.
• Sustain heavy physical labor during periods of intense activity in emergency situations; to work at varying heights above grade.
• Work within a para-military organization and respond readily to directives.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, and the general public; to work effectively as a team member.
• Be able and operate all equipment and apparatus effectively.
• Perform necessary maintenance, testing and care of fire hoses, trucks, ladders, and auxiliary equipment and apparatus.
• Prevent waste and damage of materials, supplies, and equipment.
• Perform community service activities.

Minimum Requirements:

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalent
• Age 21 
• Complete and pass a written exam
• Complete an oral interview with the department hiring committee
• Pass a medical physical test
• Pass a physical agility test

Special Requirements:

• Possess a Minnesota Class D driver’s license.
• Live within a 4 mile radius or an 8 minute drive time of the Detroit Lakes Fire station at 417 Main St. W, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
• Become Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Hazmat, and EMR certified within 2 years (all training expenses paid for by the City of Detroit Lakes)
• Complete 72 hours of continuing education every 3 years (all training expenses paid for by the City of Detroit Lakes)
• May be subject to pre-employment and random drug and alcohol testing.
• Must pass background check

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program available for firefighter and those living in his/her household
• DLCCC Wellness Incentive
• Opportunities for community involvement
• Pension available. 50% vested after 5 years, with increased vesting each year until fully vested at 20 years

Pension Scale

• Required meetings are held on Wednesday nights (usually 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM)
• To obtain the Firefighter I and Firefighter II Certification training takes 144 hours
• Fire Fighter must respond to 50% of calls for the year